Sole slitting machine



Dec. 13, 1955 s. .1. LESKIEWICZ SOLE SLITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1953 /NVENTOR MNLEVJ. LESK/EW/CZ BVaA, M w/ M Ar T'Ks Dec. 13, 1955 J. LESKIEWICZ SOLE SLITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOQ STANLEVJLESK/EW/CZ Erm W 15% A rrys.

Filed March 9, 1953 1955 5. J. LESKIEWICZ 2,726,411

SOLE SLITTING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 S. J. LESKIEWICZ SOLE SLITTING MACHINE lNl/EN TOR STANLEY J. LESK/EW/CZ A r T's 5.

Dec. 13, 1955 Filed March 9, 1953 United States Patent SOLE SLITTING MACHINE Stanley J. Leskiewicz, Lynn, Mass.

Application March 9, 1953, Serial No. 340,960

1 Claim. (Cl. 12-40) The present invention relates to shoemaking machines. More particularly it relates to a machine for cutting slits at an angle through the innersole of the type shoe in which straps, such as the heel straps of ladies sling back shoes, form part of the uppers, the slits being a part of the means by which the bottom ends of the straps are anchored to the innersole.

Straps are usually attached to the innersoles either by passing the ends of the straps down around the outside edge of the innersole or down through slits in the innersole and turning the ends over and stapling them to the bottom of the innersole. However, a strap around the outside edge of the innersole causes an unsightlybulge. Therefore, it is preferable to pass the strap through a slit in the innersole. These slits have heretofore been cut by hand. Thus the slitting operation has not been pracslant through the innersole to give a fair lead to the strap from its anchorage around each side of the foot, but they are usually cut vertically through the innersole at right angles to the sole since it is easier and faster.

When the slits are cut vertically through, the straps separate the outside edge of the innersole adjacent the slits from the central part between them, which weakens the innersole. When the shoes are worn, the straps are forced outwardly by the foot above the slits causing sharp bends in the straps. This weakens the straps and also forces out the separated outer edges of the innersole and makes the shoes appear shoddy and worn out after a very short period of wear.

When the slits are made at a slant, the straps are anchored to the innersole at an oblique angle which closely approximates the curvature of the human foot, so that the straps conform naturally to the shape of the foot- Staples anwithout pulling the innersole out of shape. choring the straps to the innersole may be placed vertically through the innersole and pass diagonally across the'slit and through the'strap. Since the edges of the innersole adjacent the slits are thus fastened to the central portion between the slits, the innersole is not weakerred by the slits and there are no loose edges that can be forced out of shape.

The machine of the present invention provides a semiautomatic machine which processesshoe innersoles by cutting slanted slits at mass production speed and with uniform accuracy which is not possible by-present hand methods. This machine thus makes it possible to manufacture the highest quality shoes at greatly reduced cost andwith more uniform quality than heretofore.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine of this invention.

2,726,411 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking at the right side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the work holding area of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of one of the cutting blades of the machine and the shde to which it is attached.

' Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 77 of F1g. 2.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a part of the trip mechanism of the machine looking at it from the back of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 10 is a section along the line 10-10 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of an innersole which has been slit by the machine of this invention.

Fig. 12 is a section along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the shank and heel portions of an innersole which has been slit by the machine of this invention and showing a strap anchored in one of the slits.

Fig. 14 is a section similar to Fig. 12 but showing both ends of a strap anchored to the innersole in the slits made by the machine of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, shoe innersoles which comprise the workpieces processed by the machine of the invention are illustrated at in Figs. 11-14. The slantwise slits 97 are cut through the innersole 70 adjacent the ornamental edge trim 98 by the machine in order to accommodate the ends of a strap 99 which are secured in the slits by staples 100.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7, the machine 10 of this invention comprises, generally speaking, work clamp and work indexing means indicated at A for positioning a workpiece, a pair of adjustable slit cutting mechanisms indicated at B for cutting the slits, clutch controlled power means indicated at C for operating the cutting mechanisms, and a foot treadle operated control mechanism indicated at D, these groups of mechanisms being so arranged as will be more specifically described, so that one, operation of the control mechanism by the operator first indexes the workpiece in position and clamps it, then causes the power means to operate the cutting mechanism once to cut a slit and then come to a stop, and finally unclamps and releases the workpiece to complete a cycle of operation.

The work clamp and work indexing means A are shown vin Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7. A pair of'work supports 71 which are flat plates are secured on the base plate 19 of the machine and provide a work station on the left and right sides of the machine as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. Since the work clamp and indexing means associated with each of the two work stations are similar, the following description is specific to the means on the left, it being understood that the parts are duplicated on the right.

"An innersole 70 to be slit is positioned and held lengthwise across the work with either the heel or toe of the innersole against an adjustable end stop 72 which is toward the back of the machine as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. It will be understood that slits 97 to be made by the machine of this invention may be made either at the toe or heel end, but the drawings illustrate an innersole'70 in position to be slit at the heel end.

As indicated by an innersole 70 shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. 3, a side of the innersole is held against the projections 73a of a pair of side stops 73 by a finger 76. An edge of the work support 71 is cut out at 71a as clearance for the finger 76 which is movable against (Fig. l) and the projections 73a of the side stops 73 are bent over the Work support 71. The side stops 73 are thus spaced apart and separately adjustable so as to be able to align the side of the innersole firmly with respect to the slits to be made by a cutting knife 58 of the slit cutting mechanism B. A slot 68 through the work support 71 provides clearance for the tip of the cutting knife 58 when it passes through the innersole 70.

When the innersole 70 has been pushed against the side stops 73 by the finger 76, it is held clamped in position by the inwardly bent prongs 75a of a finger 75. The prongs 75a are spaced apart so as not to obstruct the path of the cutting knife 58. The finger 75 is pivoted at 81 on a boss 80 which projects from the base plate 19. The finger 76 is pivoted at 77 on a boss 77a which projects from a plate 78 attached to the underside of the base plate 19.

Both the fingers 75 and 76 are moved by a cam plate 69 which is slidably mounted on the plate 78 by screws 83 through longitudinal slots in the cam plate. At the lower end of the finger 75 is an adjustment screw 82 which contacts a cam surface 87 of the cam plate. A spring pin 79 on the lower end of the finger 76 is in resilient contact with a cam surface 86 of the cam plate. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a link 85 connects the cam plate 69 to a treadle 31 of the control mechanism D, so that movements of the treadle 31 move the cam plate 69.

In Fig. 7 the cam plate 69 is shown in its downward position, in which the cam surface 86 holds the spring pin 79 out so that the finger 76 is in contact with the innersole 70. Similarly the cam surface 87 holds the adjustment screw 82 out so that the inwardly bent prongs 75a of the finger 75 are bearing down on the innersole 70. It will be observed that when the cam plate 69 is in its upward position, the cam surfaces 86 and 87 permit the lower ends of the respective fingers 76 and 75 to move in so that their upper ends pivot away from innersole 70 and release it. The arrangement of the respective cam surfaces is such that as the cam plate 69 moves down the finger 76 pushes the innersole 70 against the side stops 73 first, then the finger 75 clamps it. The spring pin 79 by providing a resilient contact point between the lower end of the finger 76 and the cam surface 86 prevents the upper end of the finger 76 from being pressed against the edge of the innersole 70, with sufiicient force to mar it.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the end stop 72 is adjustable backward or forward relative to a size scale 95 and a style scale 93 to position the innersole 70 lengthwise for size and style. The style governs the location of the slits with respect to the length of the innersole and when conventional arrangement of scales and slides to accomplish this is illustrated. The end stop 72 is fixed across an inner slide 90 slidably dovetailed in an outer slide 91 which is slidably dovetailed in a plate 92 secured on the base plate 19. A style scale 93 fixed on the inner slide 9! is engaged by a detent 94 which is mounted on the outer slide 91 and slidably supported on the plate 92. A size scale 95, fixed on the outer slide 91 is engaged by a detent 96 which is mounted on the plate 92.

To change the position of the end stop 72 for size, the detent 96 is disengaged from the size scale 95. The detent 94 is left engaged with the style scale 93 so that the inner and outer slides are locked together and the heel stop 72 moved until the graduation on the size scale 95 corresponding to the new size is opposite the detent 96 and detent 96 engaged. Then the detent 94 is disengaged from the style scale 93. This unlocks the inner slide 90 from the outer slide 91 so that movement of the end stop 72 moves only the inner slide 90. The style scale is graduated to indicate the style setting for each size for a range of styles. The inner slide 90 carrying the style scale 93 and end stop 72 are moved until the desired graduation on the style scale is adjacent the detent 94 which is then engaged.

The sidewise alignment of the innersole 70 against the side stops 73 will not ordinarily be changed after it has once been fixed in a position. That is, the distance of the slit to be made by the blade 58 from the side of the innersole 70 will remain constant for dilferent size changes and will ordinarily be the same for different styles. However, the stop 73 may be adjusted when necessary by the screws 74.

Referring to Figs. 1, 7 and 10, cutting knives 58 of the slitting mechanisms B are driven by a shaft 15 which is connected to the power means C. Crank arms 52 and 53 are journalled respectively to crank pins and 51 of the shaft 15. The crank arm 52 extends to the left of the shaft and the crank arm 53 extends to the right. As indicated in Fig. 1 two similar slitting mechanisms operate in similar phase and are disposed on opposite sides of the machine, therefore the following description is specific to the slitting mechanism on the left which is shown in Fig. 7, but it is to be understood that the mechanism is duplicated on the right.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 10 the outward end of the crank arm 52 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm 54a of a bell crank lever 54 which consists of arms 54a and 54b. The bell crank lever 54 pivots about a pivot pin 55 fixed through it and projecting into holes in the side walls of a knife support 56, which is a sector shaped element adjustably mounted on the bed plate 19. A slide 57 which carries the cutting knife 58 is slidably mounted on the upper face of the knife support 56, at an angle to the work support 71. The slide 57 rides in slideways 59 in the top edges of the knife support 56, and is held therein by cover plates 59a secured by screws 59b (Fig. 3). A bearing block 61 on the under side of the slide 57 engages a pin 60 which is fixed across the upper end of the arm 54b of the bell crank lever 54.

In operation the cutting knife 58 is driven through the shoe innersole on the work support 71 when the shaft 15 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 29 from the position shown in Fig. 7. The crank arm 52 moves out to the left and pivots the bell crank lever 54 about the pivot pin 55. The upper arm 54b of the bell crank lever 54 with its pin 60 in engagement with the bearing block 61 thus moves down to the right and drives the slide 57 down the slideway 56.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 10, the knife support 56 is adjustably mounted between two L-shaped plates 62 which are attached to the base plate 19 of the machine by screws 65. As the means to position the knife support between the plates 62 and thus to adjust the blade 58 relative to the work support 71 arcuate tongues 56a are provided on the sides of the knife support. The arcuate tongues 56a slide in arcuate grooves 620 which are formed in the plates with reference to a center located at a point on the work support 71. The knife support is secured in position by screws 63 through arcuate slots 64 in the sides of the plates 62. In order that the parts will be in proper relation when the position of the sector 56 has been altered, the crank arm 52 is provided with a turn-buckle 52a so that it may be made longer or shorter as necessary. A corresponding turn-buckle 53a is provided on the crank arm 53.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the blade 58 is adjustably secured to the slide 57 by a cap 57a and by screws 66 which pass from the cap into the slide 57 through longitudinal slots 67 in the blade.

Referring to Fig. 2 the power means C comprise a motor 11 having a pulley 12 and connected to drive a flywheel 14 by a V-belt 13. The V-belt 13 passes around the pulley 12 and a peripheral groove 14a in the flywheel 14. The flywheel 14 is freely rotatable on a bushing 1511 which is fixed to the shaft 15 and a onerevolution clutch isprovided in the bushing to engag the flywheel and bushing to drive the shaft. 1

The shaft 15 is journalled in bearing blocks 16, 17

and 18 which are bolted to the frame 19a of the machine.

Toward the rearward end of the shaft 15, which is at .the right side of Fig. 2, is a stop motion 20. As seen most clearly in Fig. 9, this stop motion 20 consists of a brake disk 21 on the shaft 15 and brake shoes 22 engage and disengage the flywheel 14 and the shaft 15 is actuated by a treadle 31 which has a foot piece 32. The treadle is pivoted to the frame 19a at the rearward end of the machine and is operated downwardly against the tension of a spring 31a.

As best seen in Fig. 7 a connecting rod 33 with pivotal connections at its ends connects the treadle 31 to a crank 34. Mounted on the crank 34 is a pawl 35 which is urged into engagement with a ratchet wheel 36 by a spring 37. The crank 34 and the ratchet wheel 36, rotate concentrically but independently about a shaft 38 which is mounted through the plate 30. The ratchet wheel 36 is fixed on one end of the shaft and the crank 34 is freely rotatable on it.

Looking at Fig. 8, which shows the opposite side of the panel 30, a second ratchet wheel 39 is fixed on the other end of the shaft 38 so that rotation of the ratchet wheel 36 rotates the ratchet wheel 39. A pawl 40 which is pivotally mounted on the plate 30 is urged into engagement with the ratchet wheel 39 by a spring 41. A lever 42 pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the panel 30 is connected to the pawl 40 by a connecting link 43 so that the lever 42 is moved by the pawl 40 and in parallel relation thereto.

The free end 42a of the lever 42 is a stop portion which engages a trip 44 of the one-revolution clutch. When the trip 44 is against the stop portion 42a of the lever 42, the clutch is disengaged and the flywheel 14 rotates independently of the shaft 15. When the stop portion 42a is taken out of contact with the trip 44, the trip 44 is pivoted to the left by the pressure of a spring pin 45 until it stops against a stop pin 46. This causes the clutch mechanism to engage the flywheel 14 and the shaft 15 to rotate the shaft. Since the trip 44 is mounted in the bushing 15a which is fixed on the shaft 15, the trip moves with the bushing when the shaft rotates.

Movement of the treadle 31 downwardly, pulls the connecting rod 33 and the crank 34 down causing the pawl 35 on the crank 34 to rotate the ratchet wheel 36 clockwise, as viewed on Fig. 7. Now looking at Fig. 8, the ratchet wheel 39 is thereby rotated counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow 39b. A projection 39a of the ratchet wheel 39, bearing on the free end 40a of the pawl 40, pushes the pawl 40 down which in turn draws the connecting link 43 and the lever 42 down (Fig. 7). This lowers the stop portion 42a of the lever 42 out of contact with the trip 44, which is then free to be pivoted by the spring pin 45 to cause the clutch mechanism to engage the shaft 15 and flywheel 14.

The ratchet wheels 36 and 39 each have four projections with alternate pawl engaging depressions and the crank 34 with its pawl 35 are arranged to rotate the ratchet wheels 36 and 39 a quarter turn when the treadle 31 is depressed. As the ratchet wheel 39 makes a quarter turn the free end 40a of the pawl 40 is pushed down by the projection 39a of the ratchet wheel and then moves up again into the next pawl engaging depression of the ratchet wheel 39 as the quarter turnis completed. The trip 44 being released, the flywheel 14 and shaft 15 are engaged as described above. Before the stop portion 42a returns upto its trip stopping position again, the trip 44 being carried on the bushing 15a has moved out of the proximity of the stop portion 42a.. One revolution of the shaft 15 carrying the bushing 15a, carries the trip 44 around in a circle until it .strikes the stop portion 42a again and is pivoted to cause the clutch mechanism to disengage the flywheel 14 and shaft 15. The shaft 15 is brought to a stop by the abutment of the trip 44 against the stop portion 42a. When the flywheel and shaft 15 are disengaged, the stop motion being a drag on the shaft, reduces the impact of the trip 44 against the stop portion 42a and prevents damage to the parts.

The treadle is released to move upwardly under the .tension of the spring 31a and return the connecting rod 33 and the crank 34 to their normal positions. The pawl 35 on the crank 34 is thereby carried up and'to the left relative to the ratchet wheel 36 so as to be in position to engage and rotate the ratchet wheel 36 when the treadle 31 is pressed again.

To operate the machine of this invention the position of the knife supports 56 are adjusted so that the slits 97 made in the innersole 70 by the cutting knife 58 will be at the desired angle. Normally the slits in which toe straps are to be anchored are made at a 30 degree angle, and slits in which heel straps are to be anchored are made at a 45 degree angle. The end stop 72 is adjusted for the style and size innersole to be processed first and the side stops 73 are adjusted so that the slits 97 will be parallel to the edge of the innersole and closely adjacent the ornamental edge trim 98. Usually the ornamental edge trim 98 will have been stitched around the edge of the innersole before the slitting operation.

One actuation of the machine makes a slit through one edge of the innersole on each of the two work stations. When commencing to slit a series of innersoles, the first innersole is placed on one of the work stations and the machine is actuated to make a slit through one edge. Then the innersole with one slit is moved over to the other work station and an unslit innersole placed on the first work station. A second actuation of the machine makes the second slit through the opposite edge of one of the innersoles and makes the initial slit through the other innersole. Thereafter, after each actuation of the machine, an innersole with a slit at each edge is removed from one work station, the innersole with a single slit is moved to replace it and an unslit innersole is placed on the first work station.

The innersoles are laid across the work station with either the sole or heel end against the end stop 72. No special care need be taken to align the sides of the innersole, since this is done automatically when the machine is actuated. Not only is time saved by the automatic alignment of the innersole but the slits are positioned uniformly.

To operate the machine, the operator depresses the treadle 31, which causes the fingers 76 and 75 to position and clamp the innersole and actuates the control mechanism D. As previously described this reciprocates the cutting knives 58 once to make the slits and then the machine stops as previously described. The sequence, timing and speed of operation of the machine are such that the treadle may be depressed and immediately released and the fingers 76 and 75 will hold the innersole positioned and clamped while the cutting knife 58 is being driven through it without releasing the innersole prematurely. Then by the time the cutting knives have moved back up the knife supports again the fingers have released the innersole so that it may be removed.

While the machine ofthis invention is primarily adapted for making slantwise slits in shoe innersoles, it will be understood that it may be used for making slantwise slits in any material or article without departing from the spirit of this invention, and what I claim as my invention is:

A machine for cutting slantwise slits in shoe soles comprising in combination a work support, a cutting knife movable to cut a slit in a workpiece, a knife support on which said knife is slidably supported, said knife support beingadjustable relative to the work support to adjust the slant of the slit, power drive mechanism connected to actuate the knife in any position of adjustment of the said knife support, a work clamp comprising adjustable side stops adjacent the said work support, a side finger movable to engage a work piece thereby to hold it against said stops, and a top finger movable to engage the work piece, from above, thereby to clamp it to the work support, cam means associated with said side finger and top finger actuating first the side finger and then the top finger when said cam means is moved in one direction and then releasing first the top finger and then the side finger when said cam means is moved in the opposite direction, and manual operating means connected to the power drive mechanism and to the cam means first to close the work clamp, then to actuate the power operated means for one reciprocation of the knife and then to stop the machine and release the Work clamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 75,068 Steinbach Mar. 3, 1868 561,770 Devendorf June 9, 1896 653,016 Brissette July 3, 1900 1,674,678 Bertrand June 26, 1928 1,967,973 Sbicca et a1. July 24, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 435,459 Germany Oct. 11, 1926 

